Visits to Luang Prabang and its surroundings
Visit the royal capital of Luang prabang through its Buddhist tradition
National museum
The “Golden Palace” or royal palace, meant to symbolize the new relationship between Laos and France, was built between 1904 and 1909, just a few years before the kingdom of Luang Prabang was declared a protectorate, and the rest of Laos a colony, of France. The royal palace design combines the French “beaux-arts” style with elements of Lao vernacular architecture, but the building can be said to have been finally completed when king Sisavangvong decided to replace the pinnacle on the roof above the throne room with a new one of a more appropriate Lao design.
Today, the National Museum is among the best places to learn about the history of Luang Prabang.
Sai Bat (Morning Alms)
They take place every morning from 5 :30 a.m. The monks and novices of the different Wat of Luang Prabang, in saffron dress, parade through the streets with their bowls to retrieve the offerings. The Laotians who await them have already taken the time to prepare the sticky rice and other foods that they offer in part in the bowl of each monk who passes by. The ceremony takes place in complete silence.
The cultural significance and austere beauty of Sai Bat makes it a very popular tourist attraction. Most visitors attend the ceremony in the old city center, along Sakkalin Street in particular.
Night market
The market is open daily from 5 pm to 10 pm. It is located along the Sisavangvong road from the tourist office and heading to the Royal Palace Museum. Every evening the street is closed to traffic and is transformed into a pedestrian and shopping street that hosts the market.
With nearly 250 vendors, the market presents a wide variety of craft products made by many ethnic groups. On the stalls there are many types of textiles, ceramics, antiques, paints, coffee and tea, blankets, shoes, ancient silver, bags, ornaments and cutlery made from recycled bombs. There are many interesting items exposed to the night market that are hard to find elsewhere.
TAEC (Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre)
Since 2006, the ethnological and traditional arts center is a nonprofit private museum dedicated to the culture of different ethnic groups in Laos.
Located in a historic building protected by UNESCO, the permanent exhibition of the museum offers to the public a certain number of pieces of clothing, personal and religious objects, tools of work …
Its aim is to promote understanding of the different lifestyles and traditions of various ethnic groups in Laos.
THE SURROUNDINGS OF LUANG PRABANG
The surroundings of Luang prabang offer a multitude of possibilities.
Kuang si
Waterfall Tad Kuang Si is a nice place, located about 30 km southwest of Luang Prabang. The more courageous will cross the river to continue to rise to the right of the falls, through the forest and its birdsong. You can even see bears on the path ! Swimming allowed at the top or at the bottom, in the natural pools.
Tad Sae
Located twenty kilometers from Luang Prabang, on the southern road to Vientiane, the waterfalls of Tad Sae (pronounced tatse) are really interesting at the rainy season due to its uneven flow or almost nonexistent in some periods of the year (dry season from October to April).
Falls, without being placed in a setting also licked that Tad Kuang Si, are more festive offering a multitude of “tubs” stairs. Multiple uses for which “hydro-massage of the back,” the framework lends itself perfectly.
Pak Ou
At 2 hours by boat or 1h in touktouk.
The Pak Ou caves, literally “mouth Ou” the name of the river “Ou” tributary of the Mekong, are one of the most precious religious symbols of the Province of Luang Prabang. Several legends exist on this place where have been filed over the years, thousands of Buddha statues.
Located upstream of the Mekong, about thirty kilometers from Luang Prabang, the caves are accessible either by boat or by touktouk; the river is preferred, more comfortable (The road is rather rugged over more than ten kilometer) and more attractive.
The boat ride alone is worth the trip.
THE SPIRIT
The Houng Chanh house is part of a desire to maintain the Architectural Tradition and rehabilitation of the district. The walkway in front of the house was at the time a way of the “Phou Nheu and Nha Nheu”. Ministering geniuses of the city of Luang Prabang, during the Lao New Year “Pi Mai”.
OUR CONTACT DETAILS
Ban Meuna, B.P 749
Luang Prabang
06000 – Laos
+856(0) 71254601
reservation@maisonhoungchanh-luangprabang.com